ACVP Veterinary Pathology flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Coagulative necrosis

Necrosis pattern where tissue architecture is preserved and cells become eosinophilic and anucleate, typically following ischemia in organs other than the brain.

Caseous necrosis

Necrosis with friable, cheese-like appearance and complete loss of architecture, classically associated with mycobacterial infections and granulomatous inflammation.

Liquefactive necrosis

Necrosis where tissue is digested into liquid by enzymes, seen in brain infarcts and abscesses, leaving a cavity or pus-filled space.

Fibrinoid necrosis

Necrosis of vessel walls with deposition of eosinophilic fibrin-like material, seen in immune-mediated vasculitis and malignant hypertension.

Pyknosis

Irreversible nuclear change in cell death where chromatin condenses into a small, dark, shrunken nucleus, preceding karyorrhexis and karyolysis.

Karyorrhexis

Nuclear change of cell death in which the condensed chromatin fragments into scattered pieces within the dying cell.

Granulomatous inflammation

Chronic inflammation with epithelioid macrophages and often multinucleated giant cells, typical of mycobacteria, fungi, and foreign body reactions.

Eosinophilic inflammation

Inflammatory pattern dominated by eosinophils, associated with parasitic infection, allergic hypersensitivity, and some neoplastic or paraneoplastic conditions.

Anisokaryosis

Variation in nuclear size among cells in a population, a cytologic feature supporting malignancy when marked.

Pleomorphism

Variation in cell size, shape, and nuclear appearance within a tissue, a criterion of malignancy in neoplastic populations.

Carcinoma

Malignant neoplasm arising from epithelial cells, often showing invasion and metastasis and frequently forming glands or nests.

Sarcoma

Malignant neoplasm arising from mesenchymal tissue such as fibroblasts, bone, cartilage, or muscle, often spindle-shaped and invasive.

Apoptosis

Programmed single-cell death with cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and no inflammatory response, distinct from necrosis.

Ziehl-Neelsen stain

Acid-fast stain used to detect mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium bovis, appearing red against a blue background.

Congo red stain

Special stain binding amyloid, producing apple-green birefringence under polarized light and indicating amyloid deposition.

Masson trichrome

Special stain that colors collagen blue or green, useful for assessing fibrosis and connective tissue deposition in tissues.

Prussian blue stain

Special stain detecting iron (hemosiderin) in tissues, appearing blue and useful for identifying hemorrhage or iron accumulation.

Microcytic anemia

Anemia with reduced mean corpuscular volume, associated with iron deficiency and portosystemic shunts in dogs.

Macrocytic anemia

Anemia with increased mean corpuscular volume, often regenerative due to reticulocytosis, or associated with FeLV and B-vitamin deficiency.

Regenerative anemia

Anemia with increased reticulocytes indicating bone marrow response, typically from blood loss or hemolysis.

Nonregenerative anemia

Anemia with inadequate reticulocyte response, suggesting bone marrow disease, chronic disease, or nutritional deficiency.

Stress leukogram

Leukogram pattern of mature neutrophilia, lymphopenia, eosinopenia, and monocytosis, typically from glucocorticoid excess or stress.

Left shift

Presence of immature neutrophils (bands) in blood, indicating increased demand and marrow release during inflammation or infection.

Prerenal azotemia

Elevated BUN and creatinine from reduced renal perfusion, with concentrated urine and rapid response to fluid therapy.

Renal azotemia

Elevated BUN and creatinine due to loss of nephron function, typically accompanied by isosthenuria and nonresponsive to fluids.

Isosthenuria

Urine specific gravity approximately 1.008-1.012, indicating inability to concentrate or dilute urine, consistent with renal disease.

ALT elevation

Increase in alanine aminotransferase indicating hepatocellular injury; enzyme is relatively liver-specific in dogs and cats.

ALP elevation

Increase in alkaline phosphatase reflecting cholestasis or enzyme induction by drugs such as corticosteroids or phenobarbital.

Urine protein:creatinine ratio

Ratio quantifying urine protein relative to creatinine, used to confirm and monitor proteinuria when dipstick results are ambiguous.

Prolonged PT

Increased prothrombin time indicating dysfunction of the extrinsic or common coagulation pathway, such as factor VII deficiency or rodenticide toxicity.

Prolonged aPTT

Increased activated partial thromboplastin time indicating intrinsic or common pathway defect, seen in hemophilia and some coagulopathies.

Thrombocytopenia

Reduced platelet count, confirmed on blood smear to exclude clumping, with bleeding risk increasing at very low counts.

Corrected reticulocyte percentage

Reticulocyte percentage multiplied by patient hematocrit divided by normal hematocrit, adjusting for anemia severity when assessing regeneration.